Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
30 September – 1 October 2026 Daily Human Rights Report
(10/001) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
According to news reports published on 30 September 2026, it was learned that Buğra Gökce, Chair of the Istanbul Planning Agency (IPA), who is being held at Istanbul Marmara (Silivri) Prison, was not permitted to attend the funeral of his late uncle, Süleyman Alim Gölge, on the grounds that he was not a first-degree relative.
According to press reports on 1 October 2026, as part of an operation named ‘My Family is Safe’, LGBT+ detained in Mersin were held in wards that exceeded capacity at Mersin Type E Prison, with some prisoners forced to sleep on the floor; that prisoners living with HIV were held in single cells; that clothing brought by lawyers for the prisoners was not handed over on the grounds that they lacked power of attorney; and that confidentiality was not ensured during meetings between lawyers and their clients.
From news reports published on 1 October 2026, it has emerged that at Osmaniye No. 2 T-Type Prison, the number of books prisoners are permitted to keep with them has been restricted; that BirGÜn and certain other newspapers are not being provided to prisoners; and that prisoners’ requests to be transferred to prisons in cities closer to their families have not been accepted.
(10/002) Prisoners Denied Access to Healthcare…
According to reports in the press on 1 October 2026, LGBT+ prisoners arrested in Mersin as part of the operation named ‘My Family is Safe’ and held at Mersin E-Type Prison were experiencing difficulties accessing the medication they are required to take regularly; it was reported that a prisoner using hormone medication was not provided with their medication.
According to news reports published on 1 October 2026, it emerged that at Osmaniye No. 2 T-Type Prison, prisoners’ requests for medical attention were not being met in a timely manner, and there were delays in hospital referrals.
(10/003) A Prisoner Whose Release Was Adjourned by a Decision of the Prison Administration and Observation Board…
According to press reports on 1 October 2026, it was revealed that the release of three prisoners—Emin Çetintaş, Mehmet Kazıcı and Veysi Baltaş—held at Osmaniye No. 2 T-Type Prison, who had completed their prison sentences, had been adjourned by the Prison Administration and Observation Board (CİGK).
(10/004) Mayors and Other Individuals Detained in Mersin…
On 1 October 2026, as part of a ‘corruption’ investigation targeting the Mersin Metropolitan, Yenişehir and Mezitli municipalities, 59 people were detained, including Metropolitan Mayor Vahap Seçer, Yenişehir Mayor Abdullah Özyiğit and Mezitli Mayor Ahmet Serkan Tuncer.
(10/005) Person Arrested in Istanbul…
According to press reports on 30 September 2026, it was learned that a man named Nihat Özgün, who had been deported by Switzerland on 21 September 2026, was detained at Istanbul Airport and subsequently remanded in custody by the magistrates’ court on charges of “making propaganda for an organisation”.
(10/006) Person Detained in Istanbul…
It has been reported that a person known as a social media influencer, Dilat Polan, was taken into custody on 30 September 2026 on the grounds that he had insulted the President in a social media post, and that he was released by the magistrates’ court to which he was referred on the same day, subject to judicial supervision conditions including a travel ban and a requirement to sign in regularly.
(10/007) The Trial of Human Rights Defenders in Ankara…
The trial, which was brought before the Ankara Heavy Penal Court No. 4 against Tuba Kahraman, the Ankara branch executive of the Human Rights Association (İHD), and youth committee members Hale Nur Çetin, Mert Ahmet Aldemir and Şevin Özden—who were detained and remanded in custody prior to the NATO summit held in Ankara—commenced on 29 September 2026. The indictment seeks the conviction of the four individuals on charges of “organised propaganda”. The court ordered the release of the four human rights defenders and adjourned the hearing until 12 November 2026.
(10/008) The Trial in Istanbul Involving the Mayor, a Journalist and Others…
The trial at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 25 involving Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), journalist Merdan Yanardağ, and Necati Özkan and Hüseyin Gün resumed on 29 September 2026. The indictment seeks the conviction of the four individuals on charges of “political espionage”. The court ruled that the four should remain in custody and adjourned the hearing until 23 December 2026.
(10/009) Political Party Executive on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of Satiye Ok, a member of the Central Executive Committee (MYK) of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), which was brought before the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 28, commenced on 29 September 2026. The indictment seeks the conviction of Satiye Ok on the charge of “being a member of an organisation”. The court ordered Satiye Ok’s release and adjourned the hearing to a later date.
Sabriye Ok had been arrested on 3 February 2026.
(10/0010) Trial of a Political Party Member in Istanbul…
The trial of Cafer Erözsoy, a member of the ESP, which was brought before the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 28, commenced on 29 September 2026. The indictment seeks the conviction of Cafer Erözsoy on the charge of “being a member of an organisation”. The court ordered Cafer Erözsoy’s release and adjourned the hearing to a later date.
Cafer Erözsoy had been arrested on 3 February 2026.
(10/011) The Trial of a Trade Unionist in Istanbul…
The trial of İleri Devrim Yurtsever, General President of DİSK/Limter-İş, which was brought before the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 26, commenced on 29 September 2026. The indictment seeks the conviction of İleri Devrim Yurtsever on the charge of ‘membership of an organisation’. The court ruled to release İleri Devrim Yurtsever on bail, subject to a travel ban, and adjourned the hearing until 21 January 2027.
İleri Devrim Yurtsever had been arrested on 3 February 2026.
(10/012) Person on Trial in Istanbul…
According to news reports published on 1 October 2026, it was learned that the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office had drawn up an indictment against the singer Fatih Karaca, known as Mabel Matiz, on the grounds of the lyrics of his song ‘Ha Leylim’ and the music video filmed for the song. The indictment seeks his prosecution on the charge of ‘facilitating the publication of obscene material’.
(10/013) Social Media Accounts and Games Subject to Access Restrictions…
It has been reported that access to the website https://t24.com.tr/, belonging to the online newspaper T24, and its X social media account has been blocked pursuant to a decision dated 29 September 2026 by the Istanbul 1st Magistrates’ Court, on the grounds of “protecting national security and public order” and “preventing the commission of offences”. News reports indicate that the access ban was imposed on the grounds that 118 news articles, features and cartoons published on the site contained LGBTI+ propaganda.
According to news reports published on 29 September 2026, it was learnt that an access ban had been imposed on the Instagram social media account belonging to the Kısa Dalga news site.
It was reported in press coverage on 30 September 2026 that access to at least 147 X social media accounts had been blocked under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651 on the grounds of safeguarding national security and public order, due to social media posts relating to the funding crisis.
[1]The reports on the human rights violations of the Documentation Center are claims unless they are certified. The claim of violation either is certified through thoroughly investigations of HRFT Documentation Center, including by judicial verdicts, and becomes a definite data or it is not included to the annual report.
[2]To subscribe to the e-mail group: please write ‘daily human rights reports subscription application’ to the title of your e-mail and sent it to dokumantasyon@tihv.org.tr.
[3]https://www.facebook.com/TIHV.HRFT
[4] https://twitter.com/insanhaklari
[5] Daily Human Rights Reports are prepared on the information gathered by the Documentation Center from its own network and the following dailies and internet portals: Vatan, Milliyet, Hürriyet, Habertürk, Evrensel, Birgün, Cumhuriyet, Fırat Haber Ajansı, Jinnews, ETHA, Mezopotamya Ajansı, Yurt, Yeni Yaşam, NTV, Yeni Asya, Bianet, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, Tr724, İleri Haber, Siyasi Haber, Alınteri, Kızılbayrak, Sendika.org, Yüksekova Haber, T24, Diken, Gazete Karınca, Gazete Duvar. Haber Sol, El Cezire, BBC, Deutsche Welle, Reuters, AFP.